Device for connecting and disconnecting a body to be temporarily retained with and from a holder respectively

Abstract

A device for retaining a body which may be a bicycle wheel includes an automatic locking mechanism normally disposed in inoperative position but moved to operative locking position when the body is moved into place. A manual release mechanism is provided to allow the body to be removed and a coin operated mechanism is also provided to retain the locking mechanism in operative position until a key allowed of removal by actuation of the coin operated mechanism is reinserted and turned. The actuation of the coin operated mechanism blocks operation of the manual release mechanism until the key is reinserted and turned.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for connecting and disconnecting a body to be retained, comprising a holder presenting an entrance opening to receive said body, locking means responsive to reception of said body in said entrance opening for retaining said body in said holder, manual release means for retracting said locking means to allow the body to be removed from said holder, coin operated means for preventing retraction of said locking means by said manual release means, and further means for allowing retraction of said locking means subsequent to operation of said coin operated means. 
     
     
       2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said further means comprises a key released by operation of said coin operated means for subsequent use to allow operation of said manual release means. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means prevents operation of said coin operated means until a body is received in said entrance opening. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein said further means comprises a key released by operation of said coin operated means for subsequent use to allow operation of said manual release means. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes resilient means for resisting movement of said body into said holder until said locking means moves to operative position. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said locking means includes a pair of retaining members swingable between inoperative and operative positions. 
     
     
       7. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said locking means includes a ring rotatable from inoperative to operative position. 
     
     
       8. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a rotatable cam and said manual release means includes a shaft rotatable with said cam. 
     
     
       9. A device as defined in claim 8 wherein said shaft is provided with an arm which in the inoperative of the locking means is positioned in blocking relation to said coin operated means. 
     
     
       10. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a roller which is rotated to operate said locking means. 
     
     
       11. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a swingable roller to operate said locking means. 
     
     
       12. A device a defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a retaining member and spring means normally urging said retaining member onto operative, locking position, and spring urged cam means for holding said retaining member in operative, locking position. 
     
     
       13. A device as defined in claim 12 including a shaft rotatable with said cam means and an arm on said shaft for blocking said coin operated means in the operative position of said retaining member. 
     
     
       14. A device as defined in claim 13 wherein said arm is positioned in the operative position of said retaining member for swinging movement in response to operation of said manual release means to release said locking means. 
     
     
       15. A device as defined in claim 14 wherein said coin operated means includes a blocking member movable into blocking position relative to said arm to prevent operation of said manual release means. 
     
     
       16. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said locking means includes a pair of swingably mounted rollers for guiding the body within said entrance opening and a further roller for actuating said locking means. 
     
     
       17. A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said further roller is swingable and rotatable to actuate said locking means. 
     
     
       18. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said pair of rollers are of diabolo shape for cooperation with a bicycle wheel and said further roller is also diabolo shaped for rotation by the bicycle wheel. 
     
     
       19. A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said pair of rollers are of diabolo shape for cooperation with a bicycle wheel and said further roller is also diabolo shaped. 
     
     
       20. A device for connecting and disconnecting a body to be retained, comprising a holder having an entrance opening to receive a body, normally inoperative locking means responsive to reception of a body within said entrance opening for automatic movement of said locking means for inoperative position into operative position to retain the body in the holder until said locking means is returned to inoperative position, and release means for returning said locking means from its operative to its inoperative position, said release means includes manual release means and coin operated means operating in conjunction with each other. 
     
     
       21. A device as defined in claim 20 wherein said coin operated operated means comprises a key which is removable when proper coinage has been feed to said coin operated means, removal of said key blocking operation of said manual release means. 
     
     
       22. A device as defined in claim 21 wherein said locking means blocks operation of said coin operated means and removal of said key when the locking means is in its inoperative position. 
     
     
       23. A device for connecting and disconnecting a body to be retained, comprising a holder having an entrance opening to receive a body and automatic locking means for operation from an inoperative position to an operative position in response to reception of a body in said entrance opening, thereby to capture and retain the body in the holder, manual release means rendered operable by movement of said automatic locking means to its operative position for returning said automatic locking means to its inoperative position and thereby releasing the body for removal from the holder, and coin operated means rendered operable by movement of said automatic locking means to its operative position for retaining said automatic locking means in its operative position and for blocking operation of said manual release means. 
     
     
       24. A device as defined in claim 23 wherein said coin operated means includes a key removable for subsequent use upon reception of the proper coinage in the coin operated means, the key upon removal effecting the retention of the automatic locking means in its operative position and the blocking of said manual release means.